Balmore Killin

06/10/2024

Loch Tay Killin Pier Station
The station was located on the west end of Loch Tay, next to a rail-served pier. The station had a single platform, a loop for running around, and a small timber building in the style of the Caledonian Railway. The station was originally opened as Loch Tay (Killin Pier) Station by the Killin Railway, but was renamed Loch Tay Station in 1895. The station closed to passengers in 1939, but the line remained in use because the station housed the line's engine shed. The line was scheduled to close in 1965, but was closed early due to a landslide in Glen Ogle.

23/07/2024

BBC iPlayer: Railway Walks with Julia Bradbury, 6. Gateway to the Highlands: Callander to Killin.

30 minutes of beautiful scenery and history of the railway line from Callander, up to Glen Oglehead, and down into Killin.

Julia Bradbury follows the trail of Britain's lost rail empire by walking through the territory of Scottish clans and Rob Roy, once a place to be wary of.

18/04/2024

Julia and Ian are very pleased to welcome our guests at the start of the 2024 season. We are so lucky - Balmore is in such a beautiful part of the world, with so much to do nearby.

We've been working our little socks off and have freshly decorated the interior of Balmore from top to bottom, ceilings, walls and woodwork over three floors all re-painted. And this week we've been preparing the garden area. The weather gods have appeared to appreciate our efforts and the sun has begin to shine in Scotland at last!

As the saying goes, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy", so in between the jobs we did manage to squeeze in a sublime kayak session on Loch Tay and a couple of gorgeous runs. The longest was 14 miles from Strathyre back to Killin over the Glen Ogle Viaduct on the S7 bike trail, and our favourite local "beach run" yesterday - off-road to the banks of Loch Tay. In the main photo you'll spot some snow still on the high peak of Ben Lawers.

Just to advise, there's still availability for some months between now and end of September. We welcome all enquiries. Best wishes, Julia

25/03/2024

Calling any of our previous (or future) guests who may be feeling bored this week or needing a change of scenery, and are feeling impulsive!

We've just had a cancellation this morning for a booking from today until Friday, and it's such a shame to see Balmore empty just as Spring has begun to, er, spring.

I'd be very happy to work out a really good rate for you if you fancy spending a few days up in Killin this week? Please put a comment below or direct message me if you're interested.

Best wishes, Julia

14/11/2023

** Hogmanay availability due to unavoidable guest cancellation: see in the New Year with the spectacular Killin fireworks display at The Falls of Dochart, staying at the luxurious Balmore self-catering holiday let, 100 metres from The Falls **

Previous guests - please feel free to message Julia for preferential rates.
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/24666136

17/02/2023

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR - AUCHMORE ESTATE AND KINNELL

Please only try this 4.5km / 3 mile route if you're quite prepared to get lost and thus have plenty of spare time! 😂

It's a bit of a maze but so long as you're in the general vicinity of the route you can't become too wildly lost - it's a wonderful ramble through the beauty of Killin's environs.

First go over the bridge, turning left before the Falls of Dochart Inn, and then immediately turn right on to the track up the side of the hotel.

When arriving at the South Loch Tay Road, immediately turn off left into the Auchmore Estate on the track.

After half a mile at the brow of the hill, look for a small trail to your right. There's another one a few metres beyond - you can take either. Crouch through the undergrowth and ascend through the forest, until you see the spectacular old tree photographed.

Continue past the tree, climb up a rise, then veer quite a bit to the right to find the path that descends to the South Loch Tay Road.

Hang a left and walk along the road for a quarter of a mile until straight after a small bridge, take a left between the bridge wall and the fence after. Follow a very faint trail for a hundred yards or so, slightly veering to the right, crossing over the memorial bridge. This is where Angus and Julia were either looking up to the heavens for Divine intervention or had spotted a red squirrel shimmying up a tree!

Over the bridge, and through an old iron gate - careful with your footing with the steep fall to your right, until descending back onto the Auchmore Estate track. Turn right and follow the track, bearing left into the private road. You'll pass the old servant quarters - note the original clock on the wall inside the courtyard. Amazingly, there used to be a magnificent grand house in days gone by but it was demolished back in 1962 because of wood rot or some other disease. Apparently there was an underground tunnel between the servants' quarters and the grand house, so that guests didn't have to set eyes on the domestics 😟

Follow the track round to the left until you meet a gate, cross over this, veering left to pick up the track through the field, observing the boatshed along the Loch Tay shore to your right.

Keep going through the field, then turn right onto the track towards Kinnell Farm. Follow the track to the left of the buildings.

If you look left over the wall you'll see the ancient stone circle. I have no idea how old this is!

Finally, if you've not got got completely lost, you'll come out back at the Falls bridge :-)

If you've made it this far without losing the intended route - please contact me and I will personally send you a "I followed Balmore Julia's wild goose chase route through Auchmore Estate and didn't get lost" medal!! 😂😂

20/12/2022

Fancy some skiing at Glencoe? Or just relaxing for a few days in luxurious surroundings? Here's a great Christmas and New Year deal at Balmore!!

Weve had a late cancellation so I've reduced prices for our 6 berth townhouse in Killin, Scotland.

Availability from this Thursday 22nd right through Christmas and Hogmanay to 1st Jan. Minimum booking 2 nights.

Go on, treat yourself, it's been a tough year!

10/10/2022

Another fine route courtesy of Killin's ultra-running legend Angus 🏃‍♂️ (he really should start charging us for these ideas). What a fab 5-mile ramble!

A hilly, fun walk up Acharn forest and down towards Loch Tay via the secret tunnel on to the Auchmore Circuit, just shy of 5 miles.

Over the Falls of Dochart bridge, follow the road right past the Inn and ignoring the turning for the south-side Loch Tay road. 100 metres further on, turn left where you see the cycle route sign to Callander. Follow the left path straight up the hill rather than taking the right fork up the old railway line.

Follow the track past the water-works until you reach a fork where there's been lots of recent logging activity. Take the track off to your left, following an even gradient until you reach a junction where the main track turns right and sharply up hill. Don't go right here, take the smaller left track downhill towards Loch Tay. After a while this beautiful trail opens out into clear landscape where you can see not only the Loch but the striking Tarmachan Ridge and surrounding mountains behind. Keep following the trail, which can get boggy in wet weather, taking a right fork as the gradient levels out not too far before the South Loch Tay road. This gorgeous, atmospheric trail goes under the road through an old tunnel and then winds it's way downhill, through a tranquil wood before coming out on the Auchmore Landrover track (see pic of Julia stepping out onto the road).

Turn left here and follow the road until it reaches Killin.

10/04/2022

A photo postcard from 1907, the old thatched cottages at Monemore, long since gone - situated where the coach layby is now, opposite the Capercaillie.

The Victorian hunting lodge behind, built in 1898, became the colourful Tighnabruaich Hotel from the 1970s, and then redeveloped in the late 2010s into the holiday lets it is now, with Balmore's five distinctive chimney tops in front of the Tarmachan Ridge skyline.

18/03/2022

The sun is out in Killin, the grass is cut, the first signs of Spring are here 😍

05/03/2022

Loch Venachar circuit. Walk, cycle (MTB) or run, 15.5 miles (25km).
Starting from Bochastle car park, Kilmahog, 1 mile north-west of Callander, a 25 minute drive from Killin.

Anti-clockwise, it's fairly lumpy on the north side of Loch Venachar, quite tough going, a helter skelter, up and down all the time. Views to die for though. Keep going, follow signs to "The Glens", along and past the end of the Loch, veering off to the right, until you drop down to Glen Finglas Reservoir, taking a left when you reach the road towards Brig O' Turk.

At the Tearooms, turn right onto the "main" road (it's all relative) for half a mile, then left at The Byre Inn. Follow the rough road, over the bridge, swinging right, past some dwellings, and then left at the fork, signed Aberfoyle.

Keep to the end of this good forest track to the end, turning left, still signed to Aberfoyle, and left at the fork to Callendar, S7 cycle route (see pic). This is a beautiful loch-side trail, much gentler than the north side, and it eventually joins the minor road, which you follow until half a mile past the end of the Loch. Turn left, over the weak bridge (see pic), and cross straight over the main road, and fork right for the last mile back to the car park.

A good few hours' exercise, some undulations to keep you honest, but not too remote, and its pretty safe. Stunning views!

25/02/2022

Julia took her camera out yesterday after the snowfall. These are just a few of her shots captured of the beauty of Killin in Winter...

24/02/2022

Today's view out the front door at Balmore... 😍

Anyone for winter skiing? Glencoe Mountain Resort's just an hour away and there's plenty of forest tracks for cross-country skiing around Killin, Glen Lyon and Glen Ogle.

08/02/2022

Things not to do while staying at Balmore!! Part 2

Ben Nevis Feb'22. Two climbers having a casual chat on the Belay Ledge before they finished the final pitch of Gargoyle Wall, No.3 Gully

06/02/2022

Things not to do while staying at Balmore - Part 1

Crazy video, crazy kayakers at the rapids by the Falls of Dochart bridge. Balmore Killin guests, please don't try this! 😂 https://youtu.be/vXii2546sCc

A very hairy moment at Killin....Young Lawrence and Nathan find out how dangerous the River Dochart in full spate can be...Close thing!

30/10/2021

*** Now re-booked ***

Fancy seeing the New Year in at Balmore? Watching the midnight fireworks display?

We've just had a cancellation for the Hogmanay period, so Balmore is available from 29th December onwards.

Go on, treat yourselves :-)

25/04/2021

Three Glens loop starting from Glenoglehead car park: Glen Ogle, Glen Kendrum and Glen Dubh, and back along Glen Dochart on the old railway line - past Killin junction. 13 miles of spectacular scenery. Suitable for walking, running and cycling (with good legs and tyres). It's quite remote up near the pass, so take plenty of water, food and extra layers, and let someone know where you're off.

Head down Glen Ogle on the old Callander-to-Crianlarich line towards Lochearnhead, crossing the famous Glen Ogle Viaduct, and after 3 miles, keep straight on along the railway line through the high gate (where the Sustrans S7 route forks left veering steeply downhill in zig-zags).

Keep along this old line for another mile, through an unusual gate, and shortly after passing a farm on your left and crossing under a bridge, turn sharply right almost back on yourselves, up the slope towards the bridge but bear left onto the forest track that takes you all the way up and over the pass, which is a good effort - whatever your mode of travel! Well worth it for spectacular views and about as far away from the madding crowd as you can get in these parts.

The descent is much easier - there is a river crossing so don't wear your expensive Gore-Tex shoes :-)

Eventually, 10 miles into your journey, turn right back onto the old railway line, and follow this for 3 miles, past Killin Junction - keeping right where the line forks (left fork goes down to Killin) - and back to Glenoglehead.